SEOUL -- South Korea has initiated its first steps towards developing a long-range ship-to-air guided missile through a 330.6 billion ($248.6 million) deal with LIG Nex 1, a major defense contractor headquartered in Yongin, a satellite city of Seoul. These missiles are poised to serve as South Korea's next-generation maritime weaponry.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on March 15 that a contract had been signed between the arms procurement agency and LIG Nex1 for the joint development of South Korea's next-generation ship-to-air missile, specifically for the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) destroyers.
The defense acquisition agency said in a statement on March 15 that the missile will boast a localization rate exceeding 90 percent and will feature enhanced defense capabilities against enemy air attacks. Advanced technologies, including the latest detection techniques, will be integrated into the guided missile.
South Korea has been striving to construct large warships equipped with advanced missile-defense systems. By 2030, six KDDX-class (KDX-IV) stealthy destroyers are slated for construction. These 6,000-ton "mini Aegis" vessels will be outfitted with cruise missiles, state-of-the-art sensors, a missile defense system, and stealth characteristics, all developed using purely domestic technologies. The KDDX destroyers will employ a new system to enhance stealth capabilities, in addition to multifunction radars capable of detecting missiles, aircraft, and surface vessels simultaneously.
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